THE INDUSTRY
WEIGHS IN
BY MARK HAMSTRA
SPECIALTY FOOD SPECIALTYFOOD.COM
S
pecialty food buyers, makers, and foodservice operators are
optimistic in their outlook for the new year, despite some potential
headwinds from the new tariffs on certain foods from Europe.
Companies are largely enthusiastic about their investments in ecommerce
and technology, and they expect these investments to pay off in the form of
increased convenience and an improved shopping experience for consumers.
Consumer demand for convenience is also being seen in the evolution
of retail store formats, as operators continue to expand offerings such as
prepared foods and experiment with smaller, neighborhood-focused designs.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
